National Coach Julian Nagelsmann’s Innovative Approach to Player Preparation and Motivation

National coach Julian Nagelsmann conveyed his clear message to the national players musically. When captain Ilkay Gündogan, Thomas Müller and Co. completed their warm-up program on the DFB campus on Tuesday morning, the song “Success is not luck” by the Berlin German rapper Kontra K was booming out of the speakers set up on the pitch. Coincidence? No! The song was played at the express request of Nagelsmann and his coaching team. “It was refreshing, it was something different,” praised Niclas Füllkrug.

Seven months before the home European Championships, Nagelsmann is working meticulously on his master plan. During the one-hour session under the Frankfurt floodlights, the successor to the hapless Hansi Flick occasionally took out the tactics board to show his ideas in detail. This is well received.

“Overall, he has a high level of acceptance among the players, who trust him very much. His professionalism is undisputed,” said DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, looking hopefully towards the tournament next summer: “There is the belief that with him and can really be successful with the team.”

Nagelsmann is working intensively on his European Championship team before the end of the year against Turkey in the sold-out Berlin Olympic Stadium on Saturday (from 8:45 p.m. in the live ticker) and three days later in Vienna against Austria. Eight places appear to be taken initially.

Nagelsmann relies on the Hummels/Rüdiger duo

Antonio Rüdiger and Mats Hummels are currently in the center of defense. Gündogan has his place in midfield secure, Joshua Kimmich will play at his side in the center of power or at right back.

Leroy Sane, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, who is missing this time due to injury, are in the lead in the offensive line of three behind striker Füllkrug. “But I hope I get my chance to show myself,” said freshman Marvin Ducksch.

Nagelsmann has learned in the past few days how quickly cancellations can throw a coach’s plans overboard.

On Tuesday it was finally clear that Chris Führich, who was ill, would no longer be coming. Leon Goretzka (muscular problems) trained individually, Hummels (back problems) only completed one running session in a cool wind under the watchful eye of the heavily bundled sports director Rudi Völler.

Shocking moment in DFB training

And then there was a brief moment of shock in front of around 250 selected fans and DFB employees. Gündogan shot the ball into Wirtz’s face from close range and the Leverkusen player fell to the ground in a daze.

But in the intense final game of “Nine against Nine” the highly gifted student got involved again. “You can already see processes that we have trained. That gives you an extremely good feeling. We have to and will continue to develop,” said Füllkrug.

Music should remain a constant companion. From now on, the first quarter of an hour of training should always be started loosely with it. “You can only pay for infinity with blood, sweat and tears,” the Kontra K song continues. This message also resonated with the national players.

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2023-11-15 00:57:08
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